It’s Time to Recharge

You don’t have to wait until New Year’s to give yourself a reboot. Take a personal day to dedicate to moving, donating or buying new items that will renew you

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: I need a fresh start. I feel that my life is old and stale. I just don’t know what to do. Do you have any suggestions?

Yes, I do! You can do a lot to get a fresh start. We don’t always have to wait until the beginning of the year to make changes and new resolutions. Mark a day on your calendar to take off from work, designating it a personal “renewal day.” Implementing feng shui by first setting an intention can be a great way to transition to a new start, and the payoff is worth the effort.

Preparation for renewal day

On your calendar, mark the day you choose for renewal. Set aside some money and put it inside an envelope with your name on it and “gift yourself” with it on your chosen day, spending it on something that symbolizes your intention for renewal.

Treat it as a sacred day

Treat the day as a sacred one, taking it seriously and dedicating it to yourself. Plan ahead by turning off your phone and turning down all social and business appointments. Create an email auto-responder, indicating that you are unavailable and will respond “tomorrow,” as if you were going on vacation. Plan your errands for another day, and have others step in to care for the kids.

General symbolic cleaning

Begin by setting aside a given amount of time to clean your room or your home, and stick to it. Basically, make the space as tidy as you can, paying special attention to dusting shelves and objects.

First, set your intention that this cleaning represents a fresh start for you on all levels of your being — body, mind, heart and spirit — and when finished, add light to your home by pulling up the shades or blinds.

Move 27 things

Next, a classic feng shui cure for getting unstuck is to move 27 things in your home. In feng shui, “27” is a powerful number. Without going too deeply into the details, “3” is considered a good luck number, and if multiplied by itself, the number becomes 9, the feng shui number of ultimate power, change and supreme good luck. If you times it by 3 again, it equals 27, the number of items to move to change and shift energy. The Chinese often think “more is better,” especially when it comes to luck and positive change.

This is an easy and fun exercise. Walk around your home and move the 27 items, putting them into either their proper place, the trash, a donation bag or another position in the room or house. The items need not be huge, like a piece of furniture, although you can do that as well. Move whatever inspires you: significant and noticeable items such as a plant, a large figurine or an item that has been fixed in one spot for a long time. This is a great way to get the energy moving and re-infuse your objects with intention.

Go shopping

It’s time to buy a few things to grace the entrance of your home, where all energy enters. To bring in new energy, purchase the following: a new welcome mat, a plant, fresh flowers and new numbers for your mailbox.

• Welcome mat. The welcome mat can be any thickness, color or design, but its width should be at least as wide as your door, signifying a new and inviting landing place for fresh energy. If an outdoor mat is not feasible, get a small indoor decorative rug or mat that you step on immediately as you open the door.

• Plant.The new plant, placed so that it is immediately visible outside your entrance or just inside, can be any size, but should be full, luscious and abundant looking, representing new life entering into your home. If you do not do well with live plants, choose an authentic-looking silk plant.

• Mailbox numbers. If you have a mailbox with barely visible or worn out numbers on it, get some new numbers. Your mailbox, where opportunities arrive, represents the connection you have with the world outside your home. Of course, if you live in a condo, you can skip this step.

While you are out, look for some art — images, figurines — something that inspires hope and joy within you, speaking to your intention for and signifying renewal. Even buying a new wallet can signify the beginning of a new focus on abundance in your life.

Finally, if your home is lacking light, which brings in energy and fosters feelings of greater possibilities and opportunities, add a new lamp, candle grouping or lighting fixture.

Place your new items

End the day by placing your newly purchased items in your home, knowing and trusting that in a very short time you have made some significant energetic changes that will continue to help you bring forth the intention you have set. On another note, if you, your husband, child or family wants to do this together, plan it as a couple or family renewal day. The main thing is to put your heart into it. Finally, congratulate yourself on taking action!

Alice Inoue is a life guide at Alice Inoue Life Guidance, LLC, a company committed to assisting people in living empowered lives. Alice shares her wisdom as a professional speaker and personal consultant. Visit www.aliceinspired.com for more information.